Filly sprint shapes up as replay
ALBANY, Calif. - Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature looks like a replay of a race held Dec. 8.
Four of the six fillies entered in the $50,000 optional claimer at six furlongs met Dec. 8.
Luisathebeachhouse ran second behind Yerevan Star that day and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Beezer, whom she had dead-heated with for the win in her previous start. Beezer was a nose in front of Princess Lianna on Dec. 8, with My Charmian three lengths behind in fifth.
Friday will be the third start off a layoff for both Luisathebeachhouse and Princess Lianna.
The track figures to be off Friday. It was muddy Nov. 14 when Luisathebeachhouse and Beezer dead-heated. That race was Luisathebeachhouse's first in six months.
Luisathebeachhouse looks best from the four horses who met Dec. 8, even though My Charmian may have a pace advantage.
One of the new faces, could prove the one to beat, though.
Iflookscouldkill is being sent north by trainer Doug O'Neill off a strong series of races.
After winning two straight, Iflookscouldkill ran fifth in an allowance race and then second in a $62,500 optional claimer with Beyers that tower over her rivals. Her 92 Beyer from a Dec. 9 race surpasses Luisathebeachhouse's Dec. 8 Beyer by 21 points.
Iflookscouldkill also won her lone wet track start.
Top Penny, the only 4-year-old in the race, leads the field in victories (seven) and earnings ($117,227) and also has a wet-track victory.
Weather big factor for Lafayette
Weather will be the determining factor for Saturday's $75,000-added Lafayette Handicap field. The one-mile race is scheduled for the turf course, but with predictions of rain, most trainers believe the race will be run on the main track.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer plans to run co-highweights Yougottawanna and Adreamisborn, the one-two finishers in the Nov. 26 Forty-Niner Handicap. Jake Skate, Motel Staff, and Sloat Blvd. are also planning to run with Star Cross and Beaucette considered possible entrants.
The Bobby Frankel-trained duo of Ay Caramba and Special Rate, plus Anglo Saxon and Alottadar would be considered if the race were to remain on the turf.
* Jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, who has been battling pancreatitis for four months, has been hospitalized again and probably will not ride until Bay Meadows opens in February.